LETTER: Raising some serious doubts

The Green Party stands for care for the environment before simple financial gain, and for open democracy, both of which seem to be threatened by the farmland sale proposals.

Simon Boyle as reported in the Herald [January 27] has, at the very least, raised serious doubts about the impression given by Cllr David Tutt in the previous week’s ‘Q&A’ article.

Crucial to the proposal seems to be the role of ‘covenants’, the details of which are so far undisclosed. These could be inserted into contracts between seller (that may ultimately be the original owner, rather than the council) and between that owner as landlord and each subsequent tenant. If the argument is that these covenants will be sufficient to protect our heritage, it needs to be presented as part of a public consultation.

Meanwhile, Cllr Tutt, on his own, surely cannot sell anything. Where are all the other Lib-Dem councillors (or their prospective MP)? Where is the Conservative ‘opposition’? Is the two-party council incapable of preventing bad decisions, or even providing balanced public information?

If so, perhaps the forthcoming elections, both council and borough, might be the time to show we need a change.